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State Sen. Michael Johnston, D-Denver, speaks in the Colorado Senate chamber at the State Capitol in favor of Senate Bill 33, which would allow the children of illegal immigrants to receive in-state tuition, on Feb. 22, 2013. (Daniel Petty, The Denver Post)

A bill that would allow illegal immigrants to attend college at in-state tuition rates passed the Colorado Senate with a historic vote Monday, the first time any Republicans had ever voted for the bill.

Senate Bill 33 passed the Democratic-led Senate on a 23-12 vote, with three Republicans voting in favor. The bill now can go to the Democratic-controlled House, where it is expected to pass and possibly pick up a few GOP votes there as well.

"We are now going to be able to reward young people who have played by the rules," said state Sen. Angela Giron, D-Pueblo, a co-sponsor of the bill. "They are now going to be able to give back."

The bill allows students who have attended a Colorado high school for at least three years, and who have graduated, to attend public colleges and universities at the in-state tuition rate regardless of their immigration statuses.

Missy Franklin, Jenny Simpson, Adeline Gray and three other Colorado women could be big players at the 2016 Rio OlympicsWhen people ask Missy Franklin for her thoughts about the Summer Olympics that will begin a year from Wednesday in Rio de Janeiro, she hangs a warning label on her answer.